A proposal to allow food trucks and alcohol at a community playing field in Tiburon has received a flat reception.
Members of the Town Council, which held a session Wednesday on park policy updates for McKegney Green, voiced support for banning both amenities.
Many residents opposed the plan. Alcohol use emerged as the main sticking point.
“I’m not convinced that there is any reason to do it, and I don’t think we should do it,” resident John Greenspan told the council.
Councilman Jon Welner agreed.
“I think many of the changes being proposed have resulted in a lot of shocked comments and a lot of concern from people,” Welner said. “Unless there is a groundswell of support … I don’t think we should approve it.”
McKegney Green, tucked between Tiburon Boulevard and the bay south of Blackie’s Pasture, has 135,000 square feet of playing field. It’s primarily used by the Tiburon Peninsula Soccer Club and the Southern Marin Lacrosse Club.
The town’s Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission starting working on the policy update earlier this year. Residents and town staff said the field has been used more frequently since a $2 million renovation in 2018.
The commission concluded that the policy was lacking in clear guidance for how the park should be managed and regulated. Among other changes, the commission recommended clarifying the seasons for soccer and lacrosse; clarifying when the field should be closed because of heavy rain; banning dogs, on or off leash; and increasing the rental fee from $30 to $70 an hour.
The proposed policy also includes prohibiting tobacco, marijuana and vaping; prohibiting golf, including classes by the Ranch community center that use whiffle balls; and adding language that the field should be equitable.
The commission proposed allowing alcohol consumption at non-youth events and a permit process for concessions, such as food trucks, for special events.
Chuck Hornbrook, chair of the commission, said it looked at policies in neighboring cities to develop the proposal.
Parks commissioner Isaac Nikfar said he thinks the recommendation is reasonable.
“If a couple or a family wants to go out there for a picnic and have a bottle of wine or couple of beers, I don’t think that should be continued to be prohibited,” he said.
Food trucks, music or a weekend jamboree should also be allowed, he said.
Neighbors disagreed.
“I am definitely speaking against the idea that bunches of people and other communities should be invited in here to overflow the parking lots and operate their events and their activities on the field that is supposed to benefit the Tiburon Peninsula residents,” Becky Pringle said.
The council directed Benjamin Stock, the town attorney, to write a new policy draft reflecting the council’s feedback. The municipal code will also have to be updated to align with the new policies.
David Eshoo, associate town engineer, said the proposal will return to the Town Council at either its Oct. 20 or Nov. 3 meeting.
